Retractable tow reel assembly

ABSTRACT

A retractable tow reel assembly for an off-road vehicle, the assembly comprising:
         a) a bracket having a pair of opposing uprights and mountable to an off-road vehicle;   b) a reel adapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the vehicle and effective for holding a tow rope, the reel including a shaft and a pair of opposing drum ends having a diameter greater than the diameter of the connecting shaft, and   c) a tow rope having an eye end and a free end, wherein the eye end is threaded around the shaft;
 
wherein the shaft has a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end of the shaft may be released from the first drum end and exposed to facilitate threading of the rope eye over the shaft without releasing the second end of the shaft from the second drum end.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to motor vehicles, and more particularlyto a tow reel assembly for use on high-performance off-road vehiclessuch as ATVs and UTVs.

BACKGROUND

Retractable tow lines are known to be useful for off-road vehicles suchas all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and utility task vehicles (UTV). Mostcommonly, such retractable tow lines comprise a rope wound around andstored on a central reel, which may be put in a free mode to feed lineout when needed, or put in a retracting mode to wind-up the rope whendesired. The reel typically comprises a central shaft and two opposingdrum ends, at least one of which may be biased to wind-up using atorsion spring when the assembly is in its retracting mode.

However, the rope is subject to heavy wear, and when worn out must bereplaced. With prior art retractable tow rope assemblies, this hasrequired removing the shaft from the drum ends by punching the shaft outwith a punch. This is time consuming and generally cannot be donewithout tools in the field.

A need therefore exists for a tow line assembly that allows the rope tobe changed more quickly and easily. The present invention addresses thatneed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a tow reel assembly for an off-roadvehicle, the assembly comprising:

a) a bracket having a pair of opposing uprights and mountable to anoff-road vehicle;

b) a reel adapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the vehicleand effective for holding a tow rope, the reel including a shaft and apair of opposing drum ends having a diameter greater than the diameterof the connecting shaft, wherein the shaft is quickly releasable from atleast one of the drum ends in the field without using tools;

c) a tow rope having an eye end and a free end, wherein the eye end isthreaded around the shaft.

In one embodiment the tow reel assembly uses a shaft with a first endand a second end, and the reel is a two-piece reel comprising a firstreel portion and a second reel portion. The first reel portion maycomprise a first drum end and a first shaft collar adapted to directlyor indirectly connect the first shaft end to the first drum end, and thesecond reel portion may comprise a second drum end and a second shaftcollar adapted to directly or indirectly connect the second shaft end tothe second drum end. The first shaft collar may comprise an extensiontube extending from the first drum end and adapted to receive the firstshaft end.

The assembly may include a winding bar to facilitate winding of the ropearound the shaft.

The assembly may be a retractable tow reel assembly, and may include aspring assembly to facilitate winding of the rope around the shaft. Thespring may be a torsion spring.

The bracket may be a two-piece bracket comprising one of the pair ofopposing uprights and a second end portion comprising the other of thepair of opposing uprights, and may be separable into its two pieces inthe field without using tools.

In another embodiment the tow reel assembly comprises a bracket having apair of opposing uprights and mountable to an off-road vehicle, a reeladapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the vehicle, and a towrope having an eye end and a free end. The reel may include a shaft anda pair of opposing drum ends having a diameter greater than the diameterof the connecting shaft, and the tow rope eye may be threaded around theshaft. The first end of the shaft may be released from the first drumend and exposed to facilitate threading of the rope eye over the shaftwithout releasing the second end of the shaft from the second drum end.

In a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided amethod for replacing a tow rope on a tow reel. The method may comprise:

a) providing a tow reel assembly for an off-road vehicle, the assemblycomprising:

-   -   i) a bracket having a pair of opposing uprights and mountable to        an off-road vehicle;    -   ii) a reel adapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the        vehicle and effective for holding a tow rope, the reel including        a shaft and a pair of opposing drum ends having a diameter        greater than the diameter of the connecting shaft, wherein the        shaft is quickly releasable from at least one of the drum ends        in the field without using tools; and    -   iii) a tow rope having an eye end and a free end, wherein the        eye end is threaded around the shaft;

b) releasing one end of the shaft from the drum end to which it isattached, thus exposing that end of the shaft;

c) removing the eye end of the tow rope from the shaft by sliding it offof the exposed end of the shaft;

d) replacing the removed tow rope on the shaft by sliding the eye of anew tow rope over the exposed end of the shaft; and

e) returning the drum end to the shaft end from which the drum end wasremoved.

In another aspect of the inventive method the tow reel assembly uses ashaft with a first end and a second end, and the reel is a two-piecereel comprising a first reel portion and a second reel portion. Thefirst reel portion may comprise a first drum end and a first shaftcollar adapted to directly or indirectly connect the first shaft end tothe first drum end; and the second reel portion may comprise a seconddrum end and a second shaft collar adapted to directly or indirectlyconnect the second shaft end to the second drum end. One or both of theshaft collars may comprise an extension tube extending from the firstdrum end and adapted to receive the first shaft end.

In a further aspect of the inventive method, the tow reel is aretractable tow reel that includes a spring assembly to facilitatewinding of the rope around the shaft. In some preferred embodiments thespring is a torsion spring.

In other aspects of the inventive method, the bracket may be a two-piecebracket in which one portion comprises one of the pair of opposinguprights, and a second end portion comprises the other of the pair ofopposing uprights. The bracket may be separable into its two pieces inthe field without using tools

In a further aspect of the inventive method, there is provided a methodfor replacing a tow rope on a tow reel, by:

a) providing a tow reel assembly for an off-road vehicle, the assemblycomprising:

-   -   i) a bracket having a pair of opposing uprights and mountable to        an off-road vehicle;    -   ii) a reel adapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the        vehicle and effective for holding a tow rope, the reel including        a shaft and a pair of opposing drum ends having a diameter        greater than the diameter of the connecting shaft, and    -   iii) a tow rope having an eye end and a free end, wherein the        eye end is threaded around the shaft;

wherein the shaft has a first end and a second end, and wherein thefirst end of the shaft may be released from the first drum end andexposed to facilitate threading of the rope eye over the shaft withoutreleasing the second end of the shaft from the second drum end;

b) releasing one end of the shaft from the drum end to which it isattached, thus exposing that end of the shaft;

c) removing the eye end of the tow rope from the shaft by sliding it offof the exposed end of the shaft;

d) replacing the removed tow rope on the shaft by sliding the eye of anew tow rope over the exposed end of the shaft; and

e) returning the drum end to the shaft end from which the drum end wasremoved.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a prior art tow reel.

FIG. 2 shows the tow reel of the present invention, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the tow reel of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the inventive tow reel in which themounting bracket has a removable end piece.

WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to certain embodiments andspecific language will be used to describe the same. It willnevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, with such alterations and modificationsbeing contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art towhich the invention relates.

As previously indicated, one aspect of the present invention provides atow reel assembly for an off-road vehicle. The assembly may comprise:

a) a bracket having a pair of opposing uprights and mountable to anoff-road vehicle;

b) a reel adapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the vehicleand effective for holding a tow rope, the reel including a shaft and apair of opposing drum ends having a diameter greater than the diameterof the connecting shaft, wherein the shaft is quickly releasable from atleast one of the drum ends in the field without using tools;

c) a tow rope having an eye end and a free end, wherein the eye end isthreaded around the shaft.

In one embodiment the tow reel assembly uses a shaft with a first endand a second end, and the reel is a two-piece reel comprising a firstreel portion and a second reel portion. The first reel portion maycomprise a first drum end and a first shaft collar adapted to directlyor indirectly connect the first shaft end to the first drum end, and thesecond reel portion may comprise a second drum end and a second shaftcollar adapted to directly or indirectly connect the second shaft end tothe second drum end. The first shaft collar may comprise an extensiontube extending from the first drum end and adapted to receive the firstshaft end.

The assembly may include a winding bar to facilitate winding of the ropearound the shaft.

The assembly may be a retractable tow reel assembly, and may include aspring assembly to facilitate winding of the rope around the shaft. Thespring may be a torsion spring.

The bracket may be a two-piece bracket comprising one of the pair ofopposing uprights and a second end portion comprising the other of thepair of opposing uprights, and may be separable into its two pieces inthe field without using tools.

In another embodiment the tow reel assembly comprises a bracket having apair of opposing uprights and mountable to an off-road vehicle, a reeladapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the vehicle, and a towrope having an eye end and a free end. The reel may include a shaft anda pair of opposing drum ends having a diameter greater than the diameterof the connecting shaft, and the tow rope eye may be threaded around theshaft. The first end of the shaft may be released from the first drumend and exposed to facilitate threading of the rope eye over the shaftwithout releasing the second end of the shaft from the second drum end.

In a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided amethod for replacing a tow rope on a tow reel. The method may comprise:

a) providing a tow reel assembly for an off-road vehicle, the assemblycomprising:

-   -   i) a bracket having a pair of opposing uprights and mountable to        an off-road vehicle;    -   ii) a reel adapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the        vehicle and effective for holding a tow rope, the reel including        a shaft and a pair of opposing drum ends having a diameter        greater than the diameter of the connecting shaft, wherein the        shaft is quickly releasable from at least one of the drum ends        in the field without using tools; and    -   iii) a tow rope having an eye end and a free end, wherein the        eye end is threaded around the shaft;

b) releasing one end of the shaft from the drum end to which it isattached, thus exposing that end of the shaft;

c) removing the eye end of the tow rope from the shaft by sliding it offof the exposed end of the shaft;

d) replacing the removed tow rope on the shaft by sliding the eye of anew tow rope over the exposed end of the shaft; and

e) returning the drum end to the shaft end from which the drum end wasremoved.

In another aspect of the inventive method the tow reel assembly uses ashaft with a first end and a second end, and the reel is a two-piecereel comprising a first reel portion and a second reel portion. Thefirst reel portion may comprise a first drum end and a first shaftcollar adapted to directly or indirectly connect the first shaft end tothe first drum end; and the second reel portion may comprise a seconddrum end and a second shaft collar adapted to directly or indirectlyconnect the second shaft end to the second drum end. One or both of theshaft collars may comprise an extension tube extending from the firstdrum end and adapted to receive the first shaft end.

In a further aspect of the inventive method, the tow reel is aretractable tow reel that includes a spring assembly to facilitatewinding of the rope around the shaft. In some preferred embodiments thespring is a torsion spring.

In other aspects of the inventive method, the bracket may be a two-piecebracket in which one portion comprises one of the pair of opposinguprights, and a second end portion comprises the other of the pair ofopposing uprights. The bracket may be separable into its two pieces inthe field without using tools

In a further aspect of the inventive method, there is provided a methodfor replacing a tow rope on a tow reel, by:

a) providing a tow reel assembly for an off-road vehicle, the assemblycomprising:

-   -   i) a bracket having a pair of opposing uprights and mountable to        an off-road vehicle;    -   ii) a reel adapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the        vehicle and effective for holding a tow rope, the reel including        a shaft and a pair of opposing drum ends having a diameter        greater than the diameter of the connecting shaft, and    -   iii) a tow rope having an eye end and a free end, wherein the        eye end is threaded around the shaft;

wherein the shaft has a first end and a second end, and wherein thefirst end of the shaft may be released from the first drum end andexposed to facilitate threading of the rope eye over the shaft withoutreleasing the second end of the shaft from the second drum end;

b) releasing one end of the shaft from the drum end to which it isattached, thus exposing that end of the shaft;

c) removing the eye end of the tow rope from the shaft by sliding it offof the exposed end of the shaft;

d) replacing the removed tow rope on the shaft by sliding the eye of anew tow rope over the exposed end of the shaft; and

e) returning the drum end to the shaft end from which the drum end wasremoved.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a prior art tow reel. Toreplace the rope, shaft 135 must be removed from bracket 120 by punchingone end of the shaft until both ends of the shaft are free of thebracket. Then, the eye of the rope may be threaded over the shaft beforethe shaft is replaced in the bracket.

FIG. 2 shows the tow reel of the present invention, according to oneembodiment. The assembly includes bracket 220 comprising a pair ofopposing uprights and mountable to an off-road vehicle. Bracket 220holds drum 230, which includes a shaft 235 and a pair of opposing drumends 231, 232. First end 231 and second end 232 each have a diametergreater than the diameter of connecting shaft 235. Each drum endincludes a shaft collar 233, 234 adapted to directly or indirectlyconnect the shaft end to the end. Winding bar 260 is provided tofacilitate winding of the rope around the shaft. Spring assembly 270 isprovided to facilitate winding of the rope around the shaft.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the tow reel 230 portion of FIG. 2 ,with a rope 210 attached. Shaft 235 is disposed between opposing drumends 231 and 232, and, as stated above, first end 231 and second end 232each have a diameter greater than the diameter of connecting shaft 235.Each drum end includes a shaft collar 233, 234 adapted to directly orindirectly connect the shaft end to the drum end, and an extension tube236 extends from the first drum end and is adapted to receive the firstshaft end. Winding bar 260 is provided to facilitate winding of the ropearound the shaft. Spring assembly 270 is provided to facilitate windingof the rope around the shaft. Torsion spring 271 is used in theillustrated spring assembly 270.

Rope 210 is mounted on shaft 235 by threading the eye of the rope aroundshaft 235. This is preferably done when one of the drum ends 231 or 232is removed from shaft 235, thus leaving an end of shaft 235 exposed andfree to receive rope eye 311.

It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the present invention provides asuperior method for replacing a tow rope on a tow reel. In one preferredembodiment the method comprises:

a) providing tow reel assembly, which comprises:

-   -   i) a bracket 220 having a pair of opposing uprights and        mountable to an off-road vehicle;    -   ii) a reel 230 adapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to        the vehicle and effective for holding a tow rope, the reel        including a shaft 235 and a pair of opposing drum ends 231, 232        having a diameter greater than the diameter of the connecting        shaft, wherein the shaft is quickly releasable from at least one        of the drum ends in the field without using tools; and    -   iii) a tow rope 210 having an eye end 311 and a free end,        wherein the eye end is threadable around the shaft;

b) releasing one end of the shaft from the drum end to which it isattached, thus exposing that end of the shaft;

c) removing the eye end of the tow rope from the shaft by sliding it offof the exposed end of the shaft;

d) replacing the removed tow rope on the shaft by sliding the eye of anew tow rope over the exposed end of the shaft; and

e) returning the drum end to the shaft end from which the drum end wasremoved.

It is to be appreciated that the inventive method is facilitated evenfurther when the reel is a two-piece reel comprising a first reelportion and a second reel portion; wherein the first reel portioncomprises a first drum end and a first shaft collar adapted to directlyor indirectly connect the first shaft end to the first drum end; andwherein the second reel portion comprises a second drum end and a secondshaft collar adapted to directly or indirectly connect the second shaftend to the second drum end; and wherein the first shaft collar comprisesan extension tube extending from the first drum end and adapted toreceive the first shaft end.

It is to be appreciated that the inventive method is facilitated evenfurther when the bracket is separable into its two pieces in the fieldwithout using tools. In this embodiment, the bracket may be separatedinto its separate pieces as part of the process in which one end of theshaft is released from the drum end to which it is attached, thusexposing that end of the shaft.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment in which the bracket has a removable endpiece so that the bracket is readily separable into its two pieces inthe field. Assembly 400 includes first bracket member 410 and secondbracket member 420. Reel 430 is held by the two bracket members whenthey are connected together, but when they are disconnected from eachother it is easier to remove a first end 431 from reel 430.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in the drawingsand foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrativeand not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certainpreferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changesand modifications that come within the spirit of the invention aredesired to be protected. It is also to be appreciated that the presentinvention may comprise or consist essentially of any or all of theillustrated or described features, elements, and/or embodiments, andthat any or all of the features, elements, and/or embodiments disclosedherein may be combined with any or all of the other features, elements,and/or embodiments disclosed herein to provide a system or method thatcomprises or consists essentially of such features, elements, and/orembodiments.

Further, the phrase A “and/or” B is used in this disclosure to mean Aalone, or B alone, or both A and B.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A retractable tow reel assembly for anoff-road vehicle, the assembly comprising: a) a bracket having a pair ofopposing uprights and mountable to an off-road vehicle; b) a reeladapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the vehicle andeffective for holding a tow rope, the reel including a shaft and a pairof opposing drum ends having a diameter greater than the diameter of theconnecting shaft, wherein the shaft is quickly releasable from one ofthe drum ends without releasing the shaft from the other drum end; c)the tow rope having an eye end and a free end, wherein the eye end isthreaded around the shaft, wherein the shaft has a first end and asecond end, and the reel is a two-piece reel comprising a first reelportion and a second reel portion, wherein the first reel portioncomprises a first drum end and a first shaft collar adapted to directlyor indirectly connect the first shaft end to the first drum end, whereinthe second reel portion comprises a second drum end and a second shaftcollar adapted to directly or indirectly connect the second shaft end tothe second drum end, and wherein the first shaft collar comprises anextension tube extending from the first drum end and adapted to receivethe first shaft end.
 2. The retractable tow reel assembly according toclaim 1 and further including a winding bar to facilitate winding of therope around the shaft.
 3. The retractable tow reel assembly according toclaim 1 and further including a spring assembly to facilitate winding ofthe rope around the shaft.
 4. The retractable tow reel assemblyaccording to claim 1 wherein the bracket is a two-piece bracketcomprising a first end portion comprising one of the pair of opposinguprights, and a second end portion comprising the other of the pair ofopposing uprights.
 5. A retractable tow reel assembly for an off-roadvehicle, the assembly comprising: a) a bracket having a pair of opposinguprights and mountable to an off-road vehicle; b) a reel adapted to beheld by the bracket when mounted to the vehicle and effective forholding a tow rope, the reel including a shaft and a pair of opposingdrum ends having a diameter greater than the diameter of the connectingshaft, wherein the shaft is quickly releasable from one of the drum endswithout releasing the shaft from the other drum end; c) the tow ropehaving an eye end and a free end, wherein the eye end is threaded aroundthe shaft, wherein one of the pair of opposing uprights is separablefrom the other of the pair of opposing uprights and removable from theremainder of the assembly without removing the other upright from theassembly.
 6. The retractable tow reel assembly according to claim 5wherein one of the pair of opposing uprights is separable from the otherof the pair of opposing uprights without removing the reel from theother of the pair of uprights.
 7. The retractable tow reel assemblyaccording to claim 5 and further including a winding bar to facilitatewinding of the rope around the shaft.
 8. The retractable tow reelassembly according to claim 5 and further including a spring assembly tofacilitate winding of the rope around the shaft.
 9. The retractable towreel assembly according to claim 5 wherein the bracket is a two-piecebracket comprising a first end portion comprising one of the pair ofopposing uprights, and a second end portion comprising the other of thepair of opposing uprights.
 10. The retractable tow reel assemblyaccording to claim 5 wherein the bracket is separable into its twopieces in the field without using tools.
 11. A retractable tow reelassembly for an off-road vehicle, the assembly comprising: a) a brackethaving a pair of opposing uprights and mountable to an off-road vehicle;b) a reel adapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the vehicleand effective for holding a tow rope, the reel including a shaft and apair of opposing first and second drum ends having a diameter greaterthan the diameter of the connecting shaft, and c) the tow rope having aneye end and a free end, wherein the eye end is threaded around theshaft; wherein the shaft has a first end and a second end, and whereinthe first end of the shaft may be released from the first drum end andexposed to facilitate threading of the rope eye over the shaft withoutreleasing the second end of the shaft from the second drum end.
 12. Amethod for replacing a tow rope on a tow reel, the method comprising: a)providing a tow reel assembly for an off-road vehicle, the assemblycomprising: i) a bracket having a pair of opposing uprights andmountable to an off-road vehicle; ii) a reel adapted to be held by thebracket when mounted to the vehicle and effective for holding a towrope, the reel including a shaft and a pair of opposing drum ends havinga diameter greater than the diameter of the connecting shaft, whereinthe shaft is quickly releasable from at least one of the drum endswithout releasing the shaft from the other drum end; and iii) a tow ropehaving an eye end and a free end, wherein the eye end is threaded aroundthe shaft; b) releasing one end of the shaft from the drum end to whichit is attached, thus exposing that end of the shaft; c) removing the eyeend of the tow rope from the shaft by sliding it off of the exposed endof the shaft; d) replacing the removed tow rope on the shaft by slidingthe eye of a new tow rope over the exposed end of the shaft; and e)returning the drum end to the shaft end from which the drum end wasremoved.
 13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the shaft has afirst end and a second end, and the reel is a two-piece reel comprisinga first reel portion and a second reel portion, wherein the first reelportion comprises a first drum end and a first shaft collar adapted todirectly or indirectly connect the first shaft end to the first drumend; and wherein the second reel portion comprises a second drum end anda second shaft collar adapted to directly or indirectly connect thesecond shaft end to the second drum end.
 14. The method according toclaim 13 wherein the first shaft collar comprises an extension tubeextending from the first drum end and adapted to receive the first shaftend.
 15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the tow reel is aretractable tow reel that includes a spring assembly to facilitatewinding of the rope around the shaft.
 16. The method according to claim12 wherein the bracket is a two-piece bracket comprising a first endportion comprising one of the pair of opposing uprights, and a secondend portion comprising the other of the pair of opposing uprights. 17.The method according to claim 16 wherein the bracket is separable intoits two pieces in the field without using tools.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 12 wherein the shaft is quickly releasable from atleast one of the drum ends in the field without using tools.
 19. Themethod according to claim 12 wherein the bracket is separable into itstwo pieces in the field without using tools.
 20. A method for replacinga tow rope on a tow reel, the method comprising: a) providing a tow reelassembly for an off-road vehicle, the assembly comprising: i) a brackethaving a pair of opposing uprights and mountable to an off-road vehicle;ii) a reel adapted to be held by the bracket when mounted to the vehicleand effective for holding a tow rope, the reel including a shaft and apair of opposing drum ends having a diameter greater than the diameterof the connecting shaft, wherein the shaft is quickly releasable fromone of the drum ends without releasing the shaft from the other drumend, and iii) the tow rope having an eye end and a free end, wherein theeye end is threaded around the shaft; wherein the shaft has a first endand a second end, and wherein the first end of the shaft may be releasedfrom the first drum end and exposed to facilitate threading of the ropeeye over the shaft without releasing the second end of the shaft fromthe second drum end; b) releasing one end of the shaft from the drum endto which it is attached, thus exposing that end of the shaft; c)removing the eye end of the tow rope from the shaft by sliding it off ofthe exposed end of the shaft; d) replacing the removed tow rope on theshaft by sliding the eye of a new tow rope over the exposed end of theshaft; and e) returning the drum end to the shaft end from which thedrum end was removed.